Resilient wheel.



F. I. TIGHB.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1911.

1,055,835. Patented Mar. 11,1913.

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' W mom/Era F. P. TIGHE.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24,191].

WITNESSES Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

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'III/IIIIIIIZTIIM HWENTO R Freclmcid? Tag/w ATTORNEYS mmnmcx r. TIGHE, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

Application filed August 24, 1911 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

Serial No. 645,700.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDRICK F. Ticnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the'county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Resilient Wheel, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: to pro vide a Wheel having a rigid rim section and a rigid hub section operatively connected by a resilient structure; to provide ina structure of the character above mentioned rigid spokes converging toward a common center and resilient guide members to maintain the said spokes in line with the center of said hub section; and to provide a construction for a wheel of the character mentioned which is simple, efficient and durable.

One embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference denote corres 0nding parts in all the views, and in whic 1 Figure 1 is a side view of a wheel constructed and arranged in accordance wit-h. the present invention, a portion of the cover plate for the hub section being removed; Fig. 2 is a cross section, on an enlarged scale,

- of a fragment of the wheel, the section being taken on the line 22 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail view, in section and .on an enlarged scale, the section being taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4' is a detail view, in section and on an enlargedscale, the section being taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is adetail view, in section and on an enlarged scale, the section being taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 1.

As shown in the accompanying drawings the rim 10 is provided with a series of spokes 11 fixedly mounted thereon. The spokes 11 are set radially on the rim 10, as shown. Each spoke is provided at the inner end with a disk or flange 12 to form a piston like head to receive the thrust of a spiral spring 13. The springs 13 are each disposed at the inner end of a cylindrical chamber 14. The size and tension of the springs 13 vary to suit the'needs of the work ported by the combined springs 13. The

springs 13 are, in their operation, supplemented by the spiral springs 15, each of which is wound about the outer end of one of the spokes 11 to bear upon the rim 10 at' one endthereof and against the inner end of the cylinder pocket 16. When the wheel is mounted and operated a large portion of theweight of the' load is carried upon these springs.

The cylindrical chambers 14 are formed in the plates 17. Each plateil7 is a com plete half section, being preferably constructed from cast metal and parted at the center of the wheel. As shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawing the casting is arranged to form in each of the said plates 9. complete half section of the cylindrical chamber 14.' The plates 17 are held together by means of bolts 18, 18. Atthe center of the plates 17 are provided collar flanges 19 which, when alined and combined, form a receptacle for the axle box of the vehicle. Opening laterally from and. disposed perpendicularly to the chambers 14 are small chambers 20 unich constitute guides for the plungers 21 and a receptacle for the spiral springs 22 against which the plungers 21' rest. There may be any number of plun ers 21. and springs 22 therefor, and the t rust of the combined plungers operates to hold central the spokes 11. To form .a bearingqfor the plungers 21 there is provided on each plunger a yoke 23, which yoke forms a bearing for a roller 24. The rollers 24 are hollowed at their periphery to a shape substantially the same as the surface of the spokes 11.

By this means the plungers 21 and the springs 22 may exert' a pressureon the spokes 11 perpendicular to this direction of movement without jamming or binding the said spokes in their individual action. It will be understood that the torque strain on thewheel will be absorbed by the springs 22, 22.

To permit the spokes to move circumferentially when the springs 22 are compressed there is provided for each spoke. a slidi-ng plate 25. It is upon each of the sliding plates 25 that the on s constituting the pockets 16 are forme The perforation or opening in the top of each of the pockets 16 snugly fits a spoke 11. The plate 25 completely covers the opening of the chamber 14, rendering the same thereby dust-proof.

Alined with and guided by each of the pockets 1'6 i's a thimble 26. Each of the thimbles 26 is rigidly-secured to the rim 10, as shown best-in Fig-,1. of the drawings, and forms a hous-iir ffor each of the springs 15. 1

' Whi -it is the design to permit the plates 17 and 'hub' structure connected therewith, and 3 the rim 10 and members connected therewith, to'move independent-1y in a circlimbing thrusts, as when a wheel strikes an obstruction in the road. When, however,

the wheel is emplo ed as a driving wheel,

the torque thrust o the axle section will be exerted upon the various spokes through theintermediary of the plungers 21 and springs 22. It is obvious that the greater the pull or torque of the wheel the greater will be the compression of the springs 22. The variation in pressure on the springs 22 and the variation in circumferential movement of the spokes are'provided tor -by the plate 25 whichslides on the perimeter of the oined plates 'l7. It will be noted in this connection that the flange 12 is constructed to a lesser diameter than the long diameter of the chambers 14.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire, to secure by Letters Patent is A wheel of thecharacter described, com

prising a rigid central portion embodying a hub for said wheel and having radiallydisposed in surrounding relation to said hub a plurality of spokeholding chambers; a wheel rim circumjacent to said central portion; a plurality of spokes operatively connecting said rim and said central portion, said spokes operating in said chambers and in guided relation thereto; a plurality of cushion springs interposed between the ends -of each of said chambers and each of said spokes, to maintain said rim normally con- .centric with said central portion; a plurality of reciprocating guides for each of said spokes, said guides being disposed perpen dicular to said spokes and at opposite sides thereof; and a plurality of cushion springs disposed between said guides and said frame, to normally maintain said spokes concentric with said chambers, the combined strength of said cushion springs exceeding the torque of the wheel.

In testimony whereof I have signedmy name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

-'FREDRICK F. TIGHE.

Witnesses:

E. F. MURDOCK, I J. J. MCCORMICK. 

